Piano chord
C add9 chord
Cadd9 is a major chord with an added ninth: the root C, a major 3rd up to E, a perfect 5th up to G and a major 9th up to D.
- Symbol
- Cadd9
- Notes
- C – E – G – D
Play it yourself
Tap C, E, G and D on the keys below, in any order.
- C
- E
- G
- D
Add9 chords are a major triad with the ninth added and no seventh. They keep the brightness of major but sound fuller and more modern.
Inversions of Cadd9
An inversion keeps the same notes but puts a different one at the bottom. Pianists use them to move between chords with less jumping.
- Root position
C – E – G – D
- 1st inversion · Cadd9/E
E – G – D – C
- 2nd inversion · Cadd9/G
G – D – C – E
- 3rd inversion · Cadd9/D
D – C – E – G
Keys with Cadd9
Cadd9 doesn't occur naturally in a major or natural minor key. It's used as a colour chord, borrowed or altered.